Know the Basics: Guitar
May 19, 2021
Gym Safety and Support…part 2
May 25, 2021
We are talking about Gym Safety
Gym Safety and Support is extremely important if long-term fitness is your goal. its advisable to adopt some precautions which would keep you at the top of your game.
This is a topic that is often sidetracked due to the lack of knowledge of the potential outcome or for economical reasons. Gym memberships could be heavy on the wallet.
It does not matter if you are young or an enthusiast with years of training under your belt, injuries have a nasty habit of sneaking up on you. Once this, unfortunately, comes to pass, one could get back on track eventually but the pain and misery could have been avoided.
The human body can take a good punishment when young and could survive mistakes in the gym. However, past the age of 35 one needs to realize that tendons, cartilage, and bone have already been through a lot and a little TLC would go a long way.
The best-case scenario would be to incorporate safety equipment from day one, no matter the age. This would ensure that even when you push your limits, you can do so with some peace of mind.
Every product here and more are also showcased on the product page of this website.
Let’s get into it then…
Although not a necessity in the gym, lifting straps help in two situations: when your wrist grip is not developed enough to perform (e.g.) 10 pullups even though your back muscles can perform the task OR you are trying a weight that is beyond your capabilities. They provide grip support when your grip fails letting you get in a couple of more reps before failure. This being said, it is always advisable to get your grip strength to improve proportionately to your training rather than being dependent on these supports, but they can be used for the last set to push the boundaries. Selective and specific use rather than continuous.
Knee support is a very common accessory in the gym today. Of course, the wrap version is also available, however, I have found that this product does the job perfectly unless you are trying to break some record in the squat or leg press. If one is serious with their training regimen then they would always push towards a heavier weight. That's when knee support comes in. It would help to prevent torn ligaments in the knee which renders a person almost invalid. My recovery from a knee ligament injury, although not originating in the gym which affected the recovery time frame and the leg exercises which could be done on return, took nearly a year. It was a long, slow and painful road. Highly recommended for heavy weights.
Where do I start with this? Well, the most important point, do not let yourself get tennis elbow. In extreme cases, the pain and restriction in movement would cause one to quit the gym totally. Also, it's a long recovery process. I have been very dependent on this support during my recovery from tennis elbow. With additional focus on my training method and chosen exercises, I have recovered to the point of using them very sparingly. However, would recommend them if you do heavy dumbbell alternate curls, which is the most common exercise to instigate this condition, even if done with proper form.
Wrist straps are very useful for wrist stability and support. This is emphasized when working with heavy weights which could put a lot of pressure on the wrist. Do remember that although body parts are rested due to the training schedule followed, the wrist is never at rest on any day. A resultant overworked or injured wrist could result in carpal tunnel syndrome which is something you really don't want. Either get wrist support as a separate entity like the one depicted here or there are gloves available that include wrist support as shown below. Which one to use is a matter of personal choice although I prefer separate.
Gloves are a common sight in the Gym nowadays. However, while I was growing up it was rare, as was air-conditioned gyms for that matter. Covid notwithstanding, wearing gloves for weight training is a no-brainer. It provides grip where sweaty palms could mean a slip on the steel bar resulting in some nasty injuries. More importantly, they prevent rough callouses which are a sure result of weight training. Gloves are available as stand-alone or with wrist support. Choose as per your preference. ...cont'd in Part 2
